Kerosene heater likely cause of mobile home fire in Presque Isle

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A crew remained on the scene of a mobile home fire on the Caribou Road early Saturday afternoon.

According to Presque Isle Fire Chief Darrell White, a passer-by reported the fire at the 467 Caribou Road residence of Nelson Saucier at 9:47 a.m. Saturday.

By the time firefighters arrived less than 10 minutes later, an unfinished addition to the mobile home was engulfed in smoke and flames, White said.

The fire was contained to the addition, which was destroyed, but the rest of the residence sustained minor smoke and water damage, White said, adding that he expects Saucier will be able to salvage most of the contents and be back at home in a month or so.

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Saucier had been in the home just three weeks, White said. No one was injured in the fire.

In the meantime, White said Saucier is staying with family in the area.

One firefighter was treated at the Aroostook Medical Center as a precautionary measure with minor burns to his ears and then released, according to firefighter and paramedic Scott Cyr.

White said the investigation into the cause of the fire will begin Monday, but pointed out that a kerosene heater being used to heat the addition is the likely cause of the blaze.

Members of the department faced frigid temperatures while fighting the fire Saturday morning.

“It was extremely cold,” White said. “We’d start laying water down and there would be ice everywhere and the guys gloves were freezing up and the water lines would freeze. It really intensifies the challenge, but the guys did a great job.”

The Presque Isle Fire Department was joined at the scene by a crew from the Caribou Fire Department and the Mapleton Fire Department provided coverage for Presque Isle while they were on the scene.